Macalester came within just a point of its all-time single-game scoring record when it racked up 62 points Saturday in a shutout win over Principia in Elsah, Illinois, Saturday afternoon. The all-time school mark is 63 points scored in the 1967 season-opener against Wartburg. The Scots established several school records and came close to others.
The Scots are now 2-0 for the first time since taking their first two contests of the 1988 season, 19 years ago, and have posted their first shutout since 1967.
The Scots owned a commanding 628-104 advantage in total yardage and led 48-0 at halftime. Mac's 628 yards destroys the old single-game mark of 505 set against Colorado College just a year ago. The 90 plays from scrimmage tops the old Macalester record of 89 offensive plays set in 2002 against Carleton. It was a day of records and near-records for the Scots. In addition to setting a total offense figure in yardage and plays, Macalester also established a single-game record with 397 passing yards.
“It was important for our guys to come out and establish the tempo immediately, like a favored team should, and we did that,” said second-year Mac head coach Glenn Caruso.
“The numbers and stats are nice, and certainly pretty to look at, but the win is what mattered. This win give us the first 2-0 start in the program since '88; Shoot, most of my team wasn't even born them."
Not allowing the offense to steal all the thunder, Macalester's defense established a new record with six interceptions (the old mark was five set in 1983 against Gustavus and 1986 against Bethel). Nick Honan (Sr., Apple Valle , Minn.) picked off two passes, while collecting one interception each were Jeremy Velasquez (Sr., Fort Stockton, Tex.), Brian Foster (Fr., Shannon, Miss.), Colin Smith (Jr., Shorewood, Wis.) and Ben Pierson (Sr., Menomonie, Wis.).
"Resetting the total offense record was nice, but I was more impressed with the way that the defense played," Caruso said. "Regardless of who you play, to pitch a shutout is a dominating performance, and I was thrilled that we were able to play everyone while doing it."
Jacob McDonnell (So., Duluth, Minn. / Marshall) finished with four touchdowns and has seven on the young season, rushing for 105 yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns. Eric Kelly (Fr., Lyons, Colo. / Lyons) added 17 carries for 103 yards. Quarterback Nick Slobe (So., Rock Valley, Ia.) went 13-for-22 for 290 yards and two touchdowns. is favorite receiver was Eion Dando (So., St. Paul, Minn. / Copenhagen International), who caught seven passes for 197 yards. The school record for most yards gained receiving in a game is 207 established in 1999 by David Schumacher.
Backup quarterback Trevor Miehe (Fr., Holmen, Wis.) also had a solid game in his first collegiate action and he and Slobe led the way to the Mac passing and total offense records. Miehe completed 10 of 19 passes for 107 yards and a score. Macalester's 397 passing yards breaks the old record of 354 set in 1999 against St. Olaf.
John Elliott (Fr., El Paso, Tex. / Andress) caught four passes for 51 yards and Nash Traylor (So., Sonora, Tex.) hauled in four passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Linebacker Jeff Wankel (Sr., Bloomer, Wis.) was Mac's top tackler on the day with six stops, including three tackles for loss of yardage and a QB sack.
The Scots were 11-for-21 on third- and fourth-down conversions and earned a 28-7 first down advantage.
The first of six interceptions was by Foster on Principia's second possession and four plays later - on a fourth-and-two - Macalester was off and running with the first of its eight touchdowns. Slobe ran it in from seven yards out. Mac drove 62 yards on nine plays on its next set of downs, behind quarterback Miehe, and scored on a run from three yards out for the first of McDonnell's four TDs. The Scots were now off to the races.
McDonnell crossed the goal line three more times in the half, while the Scots also received scores from Kevin Finnegan (Fr., Oak Park, Ill. / Oak Park-River Forest) on a 28-yard pass from Miehe and from Jakub Koziol (Sr., Chicago, Ill. / St. Patrick) on a four-yard burst.
The team's second half touchdowns came in the third quarter, the first on a Slobe 13-yard scoring strike to Traylor and the final one on a Kelly nine-yard run.
Macalester goes for its first 3-0 start since 1984 when he plays host to Carleton on Saturday (Sept. 15) at 6 p.m. for the “Book of Knowledge” traveling trophy.
"Right not, our kids are playing hard and together, and when you have those two qualities, the possibilities are endless," offered Caruso.
